Barton admits Dabo assault

FORMER Manchester City star Joey Barton has pleaded guilty to attacking a team mate in `an explosive combination of football and violence' during a training ground row. The 25-year-old was due to go on trial at Minshull Street Crown Court but changed his plea after the Judge indicated that he would impose a suspended sentence for the assault. Barton, whose victim Ousmane Dabo was present to hear his plea, was due to be sentenced tomorrow morning.

FORMER Manchester City star Joey Barton has pleaded guilty to attacking a team mate in `an explosive combination of football and violence' during a training ground row.

The 25-year-old was due to go on trial at Minshull Street Crown Court but changed his plea after the Judge indicated that he would impose a suspended sentence for the assault.

Barton, whose victim Ousmane Dabo was present to hear his plea, was due to be sentenced tomorrow morning.

The court heard that the pair squared up to each other at the end of a heated first team practice game at the club's Carrington training complex.

Dabo was said to have pushed Barton lightly on both shoulders as the pair came face to face.

That prompted Barton, who now plays for Newcastle United, to punch him to the left of his head - causing him to lose consciousness and drop to the floor.

He was then said to have continued the attack, delivering more punches to his dazed team mate.

'Violence'

Prosecutor Richard Vardon described the fracas - which took place at City's Carrington ground on 1 May last year - as `an explosive combination of football and violence'.

He read out several statements from City players including ex-Blues striker Georgios Samaras who described the tussle as `the worst incident I have seen on a football pitch in my entire career'

He added: `I will never forget it'.

Veteran Scot Paul Dickov said he managed to get in between the two players - taking a blow himself.

Other players were then said to have run in and helped separate the pair.

Barton was arrested later that month.

Stuart Pearce, the club's manager at the time and current England Under 21s coach, said the attack was `as short as it was unnecessary'.

Other players Joe Hart, Andreas Isaksson and Michael Johnson all said they saw Barton throwing punches without Dabo retaliating.

Bleeding

Dabo, who now plays for Italian side Lazio, was left bleeding from his nose, forehead and ears. He was said to have lost consciousness for around six seconds.

The Frenchman, 31, was treated in hospital for the affects of head trauma, an inflamed eye and bruised eyelids following the attack. Four days later he was told that he would make a full recovery from his injuries.

Mr Vardon read out excerpts from Dabo's statement which said he was scared that the damage done to his eye would end his career.

He added: "He (Barton) has never apologised or sent any messages of support."

Dabo said that Barton was `snarling' and shouting abuse at him after the simmering session which had seen the pair exchange nasty tackles.

Defending Barton, Jim Sturman QC issued a report from the Sporting Chance clinic who have been treating him for his behavioural problems.

He also handed over a letter from Barton's current manager Kevin Keegan which read: `this man has changed'.

Barton is currently serving a six-month sentence for an attack in Liverpool in which he punched a man 20 times and vandalised a taxi.

Electronic tagging

The midfielder would have been eligible to have been released on parole and fitted with an electronic tagging device on Sunday if he was not awaiting trial for a separate offence.

For this incident he admitted one charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

If he does receive a suspended sentence he is likely to return to prison until his parole application can be processed.

Barton, from Widnes, was dressed in a grey Ralph Lauren long sleeved polo shirt, white tee shirt and dark blue jeans. He spoke only to confirm his name and his plea but appeared to exchange pleasantries with the security guard. Barton, who has one England cap, bit his nails throughout but appeared relaxed. He was sold to Newcastle United three months after the punch up for £5.8m.

Former City defender Sylvain Distin - thought to be a key witness - came under fire from the prosecution after it emerged he was reluctant to give evidence.

The Frenchman, who now plays for Portsmouth, claimed he was `outside jurisdiction' - which was bluntly rejected by the Crown. If the trial had gone ahead they would have appealed for a warrant to be issued for the player's arrest.